Memory Lane | Gordon Bulloch
16 Apr 2020History-making Warrior, Scotland captain and British and Irish Lion - Gordon Bulloch's career in rugby had it all.
The born and bred Glaswegian enjoyed the type of journey every aspiring player dreams about; from captaining his hometown side to representing the British and Irish Lions in a Test match, he remains one of Scotland’s greatest-ever hookers.
15 years on from his final outing in a Glasgow jersey, we take a look at what makes Bulloch such a key part of the club’s history with the help of club stats supremo Kevin Millar (@topofthemoongw)…
Founding member
Right from the outset, Bulloch was writing his name into the record books for Glasgow. Packing down in the middle of the front row in the club’s first-ever match in the professional era, the hooker became Warrior #2 by starting against Newbridge on October 12 1996.
Indeed, the hooker was a mainstay in Glasgow colours throughout the club’s formative years, becoming the only player to start every match for the club in their first two seasons.
Centurion #3
It took Bulloch just 121 matches to reach a century of appearances for Glasgow, the third player in club history to reach the milestone.
Only Tommy Hayes and Gordon McIlwham, in 117 and 118 games respectively, can lay claim to having joined the list of 100-cap men sooner than the hooker.
Brotherly love
Gordon wasn’t the only Bulloch to represent Glasgow with distinction – brother Alan frequently lined up in the same starting XV for Glasgow, taking his place in the centre.
With both men members of the Centurions club, it’s perhaps no surprise that the Bullochs are the most-capped siblings in club history with a combined total of 264 appearances between 1996 and 2005
O Captain, my captain
Having first captained the club in it’s debut season, Bulloch’s leadership skills were an invaluable asset throughout his time with Glasgow.
The hooker led out his team on 58 occasions, with only title-winning skipper Al Kellock having captained the Warriors more often than the former front-row stalwart.
Euro-star
Bulloch remained the sole holder of the club’s record for European appearances until this very season, having made 50 appearances across the Heineken Cup and Challenge Cup over the course of his career.
Rob Harley joined the hooker on a half-century earlier this year, making his 50th European appearance against Sale Sharks back in January.
Lions roar
A run of sustained form for club and country saw Bulloch called up for the 2001 British and Irish Lions tour to Australia, becoming the third player from Glasgow to represent the famous touring side in the professional era.
A second selection followed four years later, where the hooker earned a Test cap in the third Test defeat to New Zealand.
Hidden talent
One record remains solely the possession of Bulloch, however.
After knocking over the extra two points in a match against Newport on 6 May 2000, the hooker became the first – and to date only! – forward to kick a conversion for Glasgow Warriors.
